Member Since: 18 May 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 584
Battery improves mpg and performance.
Have just changed my battery on my D3. I left the CD player on for about 2 hours while I gave the old girl a thorough clean. Wouldn't start next morning, so as the battery is now almost 9 years old, decided to fit a new one. Surprised that since fitting the mpg has improved and so has the performance (a little).
Any explanation as to why? Not complaining mind you! 2007 Disco3 2.7 tdv6 SE
gvif with reversing camera
V8 brakes with new EPB module and shoes
Later D4 grille
Alive tuning remap
Mazda MX5
Ferguson ted20 tractor
Hyundai Getz 1.4 (wife's )
8th May 2016 9:30 am
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8219
I don't think a battery that will run the CD player for two hours with the engine not running is no good, wish mine did, it lasts about 5 minutes before the radio goes off with a low power message It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
8th May 2016 9:37 am
Geoff at Drym
Member Since: 18 May 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 584
In which case my battery has done well to last as long as it has. But this happened just before going away for a while so didn't want to take any chances. 9 years is still pretty good though so didn't mind forking out. 2007 Disco3 2.7 tdv6 SE
gvif with reversing camera
V8 brakes with new EPB module and shoes
Later D4 grille
Alive tuning remap
Mazda MX5
Ferguson ted20 tractor
Hyundai Getz 1.4 (wife's )
8th May 2016 9:42 am
hillstrubl
Member Since: 27 Apr 2015
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 36
Re: Battery improves mpg and performance.
Geoff at Drym wrote:
Have just changed my battery on my D3. I left the CD player on for about 2 hours while I gave the old girl a thorough clean. Wouldn't start next morning, so as the battery is now almost 9 years old, decided to fit a new one. Surprised that since fitting the mpg has improved and so has the performance (a little).
Any explanation as to why? Not complaining mind you!
Totally unrelated. There is no way a battery can improve MPG and performance except with a dynometer and a drastic weight reduction of the battery itself.
13th May 2016 6:51 pm
Jamest
Member Since: 12 May 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 125
Would the alternator be working less with a new battery? If the old battery was not holding much charge then the alternator would be constantly under load and ttherefore adding a load to the engine?? - bit like when you plug in a kettle to a small petrol generator the engine has to work really hard.
Just guessing, ---but I'm now thinking of changing my battrey! Mine is the original and is now about ten years old.
13th May 2016 7:59 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8219
Can't be anything wrong with the old battery when it will power the cd for two hours with the engine off and doors open, but I could do with one like his new one It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
13th May 2016 8:04 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
A good and well-charged battery will reduce alternator / ancillary load on the engine and thereby increase mpg.
To make more routine use of this saving the D4 tries to avoid charging the battery in the normal fashion but works the charging system hard when the vehicle is using regenerative braking.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 18 Mar 2015
Location: Zurich
Posts: 469
Has anyone (else) tried a desulfator? My battery failed last summer when I returned from holiday. So as an experiment I connected it up to a trickle charge for a few weeks with a £5 desulfator wired in parallel, periodically using the car. I was amazed to discover the battery was the original from 2006. Since the above, performance has been flawless, even through the Swiss winter.
Snakeoil or a new cure?
Andy
15th May 2016 5:08 pm
Geoff at Drym
Member Since: 18 May 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 584
Many thanks for the replies lads. I've also noticed that it starts a lot quicker and no slight puff of bluish smoke when it didn't fire up immediately, so that's also a plus.
I've been away for a week and clocked up 1,000 miles plus on the new battery and the fuel consumption has definitely improved by about one and a half mpg. Not much, but considerable for a Disco 3!!
It would seem that all your replies have valid suggestions, so again many thanks. 2007 Disco3 2.7 tdv6 SE
gvif with reversing camera
V8 brakes with new EPB module and shoes
Later D4 grille
Alive tuning remap
Mazda MX5
Ferguson ted20 tractor
Hyundai Getz 1.4 (wife's )
mine did the same. went from 25 mpg and now doing a whopping 29! wish i had changed it sooner
17th May 2016 9:40 am
Biffysun
Member Since: 09 Jul 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 1790
Once (a looonnng time ago) had a Vx Cavalier SRi which developed a faulty regulator on the alternator, everything would be fine then the lights would become 'Xenon like' bright and the car would 'lose' power slightly but you could feel it more sluggish, the lights would then go back to normal and all was well again.
So would agree with the 'well informed and respected above' that a low battery causing the alternator to work harder could affect both 8)
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and the car would 'lose' power slightly but you could feel it more sluggish, the lights would then go back to normal and all was well again.
that a low battery causing the alternator to work harder could affect both 8)
